Dong Wanyi shot them a look, her voice soft, "Young Master Xu, pay them no mind, let's eat. How is Donghua's cooking?" Li Muzhan nodded in praise, "I have truly never tasted anything this delicious!" Dong Wanyi smiled, "It's good that the Young Master enjoys it." Li Muzhan pushed away his jade cup and rose, "It's getting late.

I've eaten and drunk my fill, and I should return to my evening meditation practice." Dong Wanyi rushed, "Is the Young Master leaving already?" Li Muzhan chuckled, "Having eaten and drunk my fill, there’s no point in staying longer. I cannot miss my evening practice." Dong Wanyi entreated, "Just stay the night." Li Muzhan's face immediately stiffened, his tone turning serious, "I once swore an oath to my Master: morning and evening practice must never be missed, not for a single day!" Dong Wanyi gazed at him with clear, watery eyes, slowly nodding, "A single day cannot be dispensed with.

No wonder the Young Master has achieved what he has. Then I shall not insist!" Elder He and Elder Geng stroked their beards and nodded.

They had previously held some reservations about Li Muzhan—the boy was too arrogant—but even they couldn't help but nod now, applauding such resolve and perseverance. He no longer seemed as offensive to their eyes.

"Chunhua, escort the Young Master back," Dong Wanyi called out loudly. Chunhua entered, drifting in a gown of dark green silk, offering Li Muzhan a smiling nod, "Young Master Li, please follow me!" Li Muzhan smiled, "Thank you for your trouble, Sister Chunhua." Chunhua immediately broke into a sweet smile and led the way out of the room, carrying a lantern.

Li Muzhan turned to salute the other three with clasped hands, then strode out the threshold with great momentum. He followed behind Chunhua, catching the faint, delicate fragrance, not wishing to break the silence with speech.

Chunhua also led the way quietly. She held the lantern in her left hand, her graceful figure swaying lightly like a willow branch.

They quickly crossed two courtyards, arriving at the rear garden. The garden was brilliantly lit; lanterns were set up around the bamboo grove, near the rockery, and within the flowerbeds.

The lake was crisscrossed by what looked like two swirling fire dragons. The small pavilion was bathed in light as if it were daytime.

"Sister Chunhua, please return; I can find my way back myself," Li Muzhan said with a slight smile. Chunhua turned to him, "Shall I lay out the bedding for the Young Master?" Li Muzhan shook his head, "I am accustomed to being alone and am not used to having others wait upon me.

Please return, Sister Chunhua." "Very well then," Chunhua replied with a gentle smile, "The Young Mistress will come to the rear garden to relax after her dinner." Li Muzhan queried, "Sister Chunhua means I should not come out tonight?" Chunhua pressed her lips together in a slight smile, "I didn't say that, mind you." Li Muzhan sighed and shook his head, "The rules of great families are too numerous. Truly tiresome!" Chunhua laughed, "The Young Master will grow accustomed to it after staying a while.

I take my leave!" She turned and departed gracefully, carrying the lantern. Li Muzhan withdrew his gaze, entered the Purple Bamboo Grove, and returned to his own Purple Bamboo House...

main chamber. The moment Li Muzhan and Chunhua left, Elder Geng sprang up, taking two quick steps to close the distance to the landscape painting, peering intently at the circular hole.

"Good lad!" he murmured, clicking his tongue. Elder He also approached, examining it for a moment before shaking his head.

Dong Wanyi addressed them, "Elder He, Elder Geng, you are going too far. Young Master Li is my life-saver; acting this way is truly disheartening!" Elder He smiled, "This Young Master Li’s cultivation is astonishing.

Madam, you cannot blame Old Geng. To suddenly encounter such a young master, who wouldn't be suspicious?" Elder Geng stroked his beard and nodded, "As the saying goes, a famous teacher produces a brilliant student.

To possess such cultivation at this age, it could only be cultivated in a renowned sect!" Dong Wanyi countered, "Elder Geng underestimates the exceptional figures in this world too much." Elder Geng shook his head, "Such profound cultivation requires an unrivaled spiritual elixir, advanced cultivation methods, and guidance from a wise master—all three are indispensable! How can an ordinary person possibly possess all three?

The spiritual elixir alone is not something common folk can even lay eyes on!" Dong Wanyi offered, "Young Master Li resides deep in the mountains; obtaining herbs is hardly difficult." "Sigh..." Elder Geng sighed, "The Young Mistress is determined to protect him. I still haven't seen anything particularly commendable about him!" Dong Wanyi pouted slightly, instantly chiding, "El-der Geng—!" Elder He waved a hand, "That's enough, Old Geng, your words have no boundary!

...Madam, this Young Master Li seems straightforward, but one must always maintain caution when dealing with the human heart." "If he wanted to kill me, he would have done so already," Dong Wanyi countered, shaking her head. Elder He shook his head again, "I only fear what he desires is not the Madam's life, but the secret she carries." Dong Wanyi's delicate eyebrows furrowed, and she shot him an annoyed glance.

Elder Geng urged, "Young Mistress, precaution is necessary; Old He means well." Dong Wanyi’s smile vanished, her expression sinking. She rose wordlessly and drifted away.

"Alas... the Young Mistress has suffered!" Elder Geng sighed, shaking his head.

Elder He asked, "Old Geng, do you think this boy has ulterior motives?" "I can't make sense of him," Elder Geng grumbled, scratching his beard. "If you say he is simple and direct, he seems cunning; but if you say he is cunning, he doesn't quite seem like it." Elder He nodded slowly, "It seems his Taoist cultivation runs deep...

On the purple bamboo couch in the Purple Bamboo House within the Purple Bamboo Grove, Li Muzhan sat cross-legged, his 'Eye of the Void' surveying the surroundings. The entire Dong Residence was clearly visible to him.

Dong Wanyi's courtyard was located west of the main axis, a good position; by rights, her status within the estate should not be low. However, based on Li Muzhan's observations, her status was not high.

What was the hidden reason? Being a newcomer, he knew nothing and had no basis for judgment.

A bright moon hung high in the night sky, slowly casting down its clear radiance. Dong Wanyi leaned quietly on the covered bridge, staring blankly at the lake, radiating a cold and lonely aura.

Li Muzhan sighed inwardly, feeling a pang of sympathy, yet he did not rashly disturb her. Feigning ignorance, he looked down over the entire Dong Residence, inspecting the layout one by one.

The next morning, he was practicing his martial arts in a clearing within the Purple Bamboo Grove, executing a set of soft movements somewhat resembling the Tai Chi of later eras—the motions gentle, continuous, flowing like water, a beautiful spectacle. The sound of footsteps approached—Dong Wanyi and Chunhua drifting in.

Dong Wanyi wore a snow-white silk gown, her appearance as pure and beautiful as a lotus flower; Chunhua was dressed in an ink-green silk gown, her face fair. Li Muzhan halted his fist movements, turned, and greeted them with clasped hands and a smile.

Dong Wanyi replied with a gentle smile, "Did the Young Master sleep well last night?" Li Muzhan laughed, "It was very peaceful, just like when I was in the mountains." "That's good," Dong Wanyi nodded lightly. "I have come to teach the Young Master to read." Li Muzhan bowed slightly, "Please, lead the way." Chunhua soon departed, returning a short while later with a stone table and two stone stools, "Young Mistress, Young Master, this spot is quiet and secluded.

How about here?" Dong Wanyi nodded slightly, "It is excellent. How does the Young Master feel about it?" Li Muzhan agreed.

Dong Wanyi gestured, and Chunhua set up the brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone on the stone table, along with a book. She then stepped back to the side.

Dong Wanyi instructed, "Chunhua, you may go now." "Yes, Young Mistress," Chunhua glanced at Li Muzhan before turning to leave. Li Muzhan interjected with a smile, "Sister Chunhua, please stay right here.

The Young Mistress need not fear me causing embarrassment." Chunhua pressed her lips together and chuckled softly, "There are many in Dongyang City who cannot read; there is nothing to be ashamed of." "Very well then," Dong Wanyi looked deeply at Li Muzhan, surprised by his thoughtfulness. Being alone with an unrelated man was indeed a situation ripe for speculation.

She sat down elegantly, and Li Muzhan sat beside her. The delicate fragrance drifted around them.

Dong Wanyi opened a page of the book and wrote a character. Though Li Muzhan recognized none of the script, he could perceive the refined and enduring charm in her strokes.

Dong Wanyi explained, "I will start from the very beginning. The Young Master must not rush.

We will take it slow, learning three characters a day, how does that sound?" Li Muzhan smiled, "I don't have many talents, but my memory is good." Dong Wanyi instructed, "Let me show you first. This character is 'Li'." She then dipped her brush and wrote two more characters, "This is 'Muzhan'." Next, she wrote her own name, and then the names of Chunhua and the others, as well as Elder Geng and Elder He.

Only then did Li Muzhan learn that Elder Geng's name was Geng Mingyang, and Elder He's name was He Zhihua. Li Muzhan possessed the gift of perfect recall; although the script in this world was complex, it was far less intricate than the array talismans he was used to, so he memorized them easily.

Dong Wanyi wrote a character on a sheet of plain paper, then painstakingly explained it to Li Muzhan. After he memorized it, she wrote the next one, occasionally drawing out a previously written sheet to ask questions.

Li Muzhan would repeat her words exactly back to her. After repeating this several times, Chunhua exclaimed, "The Young Master is truly remarkable!" Li Muzhan laughed, "I was forced into it; my Master used to beat me often for it.

It seems it's finally useful now!" "Your Master must be an extraordinary person," Dong Wanyi said with a gentle smile. Having taught him a hundred characters in one go, Li Muzhan said, "Let's stop here for today.

Learning too much at once leads to confusion. We can continue tomorrow." "Good," Dong Wanyi sighed in relief and set down her brush.

Just as Li Muzhan was thanking her, Chunhua brought over a purple wooden box. Opening it, she revealed four dishes, two soups, and two plates of steamed buns.

After they finished eating, Dong Wanyi suggested they take a stroll together. The two walked slowly along the lakeside.

A gentle breeze stirred, and the lotus flowers on the water swayed. Beneath the lake, golden-red shadows moved—schools of koi swimming about.

Li Muzhan gazed at the water surface and spoke in a level tone, "Young Mistress, the more one is born into wealth and status, the more troubles one accrues, is that not so?" "It is indeed..." Dong Wanyi nodded softly, a bitter smile touching her lips. "People always wonder—living in wealth, without worry over food or clothing, there should be no troubles.

Few think like the Young Master." Li Muzhan smiled, "When my martial arts were low, I had many worries, and I thought that achieving strong martial arts would solve everything. When I finally mastered them, I realized my worries hadn't lessened at all; if anything, they increased.

I imagine wealth is much the same." "Yes..." Dong Wanyi sighed faintly, "I was considered fortunate; my childhood was carefree. My troubles only began when I grew up...

Father betrothed me to Elder Brother He. Before I could even step foot inside the He family gates, Elder Brother He met with a tragic accident.

Since then, everyone has looked at me strangely, as if I were the cause of Elder Brother He's death. I became a superfluous person in my own home." Li Muzhan shook his head, "The Young Mistress is truly ill-fated." "Alas..." Dong Wanyi offered a wry smile, "I can only curse my bitter fate!

...Elder Brother He had discovered a treasure hoard and told only me. Now, both the He family and Father wish to acquire this treasure." Li Muzhan frowned, "You told no one?

...That was unwise." Dong Wanyi looked at him deeply, then slowly shook her head, "That is Elder Brother He's treasure, and no one shall lay a greedy hand on it—neither the He family nor the Dong family!" Li Muzhan countered, "Since it belonged to Young Master He, why not tell the He family? ...Or even the Dong family.

There is no inherent right or wrong in this matter, but the most unwise thing is to tell no one at all; everyone will suspect you intend to claim it yourself." Dong Wanyi shook her head, "I would rather they misunderstand." Li Muzhan frowned in contemplation. This matter was indeed troublesome; both the He and Dong families must be quite vexed.

He pondered for a moment, then asked, "Between the He and Dong families, which is stronger?" "They are about equal, six of one, half a dozen of the other," Dong Wanyi replied. "In Dongyang City, these two families are considered the most prominent."